Creative Team Archives - Page 5 of 7

Quick, how big is a chibi? #Chibi #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 09/30/2020 Cosplay 7 Comments

Check out the cute dragon chibis!

What's the difference between a chibi and a statue?

A statue is a (more or less) realistic image of a person or creature. A chibi is a stylized version, usually with a big head and eyes.

I love hanging out on Instagram. I rarely post, but I do like and follow (a lot!). I especially like artists, cosplayers, etc.

When I kept seeing adorable chibis, I decided to have a couple made of the dragons from the Bringer of Chaos series. If you've read the books, you know I've only hinted at the dragons so far. I promise, they're coming.

Aren't dragons fantasy? Well, what if these creatures were extinct on Earth, but not on other planets? And what if they could exist in an alternate dimension? Remember the Gates of Life? Let me just say, you'll see.

The dragons are from House Snow Dragon on Instagram and were shipped from the Ukraine. Well worth the money and the wait. I got to pick eye color, body and accent color and let her pick the pose.

Red is Fireshade (Dessy's dragon). White is Stormsinger (Pietas's dragon). Who knew you could get chibi dragons?

And then my pride and joy in front -- a custom chibi of Pietas. Look at his armor! FloratalesCreations copied the armor Nik Nitsvetov wore in his cosplay of Pietas last year. Right down to the shoes and the weapon. I know a soldier shouldn't be adorable, but... 🙂 I absolutely love this guy. He and the dragons sit right beneath my monitor.

Nik is doing another Pietas cosplay on October 10th (time to be announced). Watching Nik perform is amazing. If you haven't seen him do this before, you owe it to yourself to come watch. He holds the event in the evening in Russia, so it's morning for us in America. Once I have the time, I'll put it in my newsletter due out Oct 7th. Or sign up here to just be notified with one email.

Go peek at my blog post for Wed 9/16. You'll see a step-by-step transformation. You'll also get a closer look at Nik and his acting ability. This guy knows how to show subtle emotion. I wish he lived closer, alas, Moscow is a long ways away! Check out that blog post and you'll get an appreciation for his talent.

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Sneak peek at the Pietas halberd cosplay @nitsvetov #cosplay #malecosplay #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 09/23/2020 Cosplay 5 Comments

This is the scene Nik will cosplay live. Julia will photograph the event. You're getting it out of context, because to give more would give a huge spoiler.

Halberd

Pietas walked into sight, dragging a massive steel halberd inlaid with turquoise stones, a cross between a battle axe and a sword.

The pointed tip screeched along the steel floor.

The image of Pietas in black, knowing he represented Luc, affixed itself in Luc's mind.

With that bright silver and turquoise halberd at his side, the forbidding darkness of his masked king channeled awe straight through him.

-- A Stolen Heart

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Witness the transformation: Pietas morphs into the Bringer of Chaos @nitsvetov @voicesbyzack #SciFi #Cosplay #MFRWhooks #PietasFans

Kayelle Allen 09/16/2020 Conventions for Sci Fi Lovers 8 Comments

The Ritual of Strength tranforms Pietas into the War Leader of the Ultras -- a fighting machine known as the Bringer of Chaos. He earned the title because his strongest Sempervian gift is Chaos, the ability to create chaotic feelings with no outside source. In battle, it mind-dazes an enemy. But with a lover, his gift renders a partner helpless, inundating them with overwhelming pleasure.

He has worn a mask in battle ever since defeating the First Division, a human special-ops group formed to fight Ultras. It came about because Pietas slew an enemy, and blood splashed across his eyes. Thinking the blood belonged to Pietas, the Ultra troops rallied to him and slaughtered the humans. By the end of the battle, the blood had dried almost black. Stories of how their "bandit king" had conquered the First Division filled the night. To his troops, he was now the conqueror of the First Division, and they gave him a new title to celebrate: First Conqueror, War Leader of the Ultras.

Look at the facial expressions as Pietas lifts the mask into place, hiding his true self and preparing to morph into the Bringer of Chaos.

The expression of utter confidence while Pietas is wearing the mask reveals how much performing the ritual affects him. In the left image, he's removing a small knife used in the ritual. The story behind this knife -- I bought it at OutlantaCon a few years ago. It was made from hand-forged metal, a handle of hand-carved wood, and sheathed in hand-tooled leather. One of a kind. In the story (a Bringer of Chaos book not out yet), Six makes this knife and gives it to Pietas. He has used it for thousands of years and it's so fragile he now keeps it in a glass case. He never parts with a gift from a friend if there is any way possible to keep it.

In the second photo, Nik performs the scene where Pietas makes a small cut in his skin, symbolically shedding blood for his people. He heals instantly, but the point is he is ready to die for his people. Look at those eyes. Nik transformed as much as Pietas.

When the ritual is complete, Pietas removes his mask. In Origin of Pietas, he paints on the mask with soot from a fire, and right after, he and Six are caught in a downpour. When Six sees Pietas's face, he bursts into laughter and says Pietas looks like a "weapon of mascara destruction."

On the first photo, notice the focus in those eyes as Pietas begins the transformation back to his usual self. The next picture shows him with the mask off and a partial smile. I love that photo. It's the backdrop for my email program. My interpretation of this image is that Pietas is happy to return to his (somewhat) normal life and be who he really is.

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Bringing Pietas to Life #Voiceover @voicesbyzack #Cosplayer @nitsvetov #PietasFans #SciFi #MFRWhooks #MFRWorg

Kayelle Allen 09/09/2020 Character Insights 6 Comments

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Hiring a voiceover artist for Pietas @voicesbyzack #PietasFans #SciFi #MFRWhooks #Voiceover

Kayelle Allen 09/02/2020 Cosplay 9 Comments

Hiring a Voiceover Artist

Hiring a voiceover artist takes time and patience. I found mine on Fiverr. Here's how it went. Be prepared to listen to samples and watch video reels. This can be fun. You will see many different levels of expertise. You might get lucky and find the right person on the first try, but I had specifics in mind and that made it a bit more daunting.
If you'd like to search for a voice actor yourself, try this link. Fiverr Voice Actors

Giving a Voice to Pietas

In 2018, I worked with the Russian cosplayer Nik Nitsvetov, who is a dead ringer for Pietas. After he recreated the Ritual of Strength from the book, Origin of Pietas, I decided to find a voiceover artist who could give Pietas a voice.

I wanted someone with at least a slight English accent, as if he'd learned English from someone in the UK. And he'd been born in Wales, so that was important to pull into the sound.

Also, Pietas has a tenor voice, not too deep. He speaks properly. The immortal king is a perfectionist who demands the best of himself and others, so he had to enunciate each word without sounding like he was reading a script.

Are you thinking -- you are one crazy woman, Kayelle. Where are you going to find someone like that? And how could you afford it? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

I decided to try Fiverr. I've been lucky at getting help there over the last few years. I recommend giving it a try if you need help on a quick project -- or a long one.

After listening to bajillion different samples of voiceover artists, I settled with one. Got the sample back, and hired him. He did a great job, but I wasn't quite satisfied. I decided to try again, but I still wasn't happy with the final product.

Should I try one more time, I wondered? You know what they say about the third time being a charm? Well it was true on this one, because I found someone who sounded EXACTLY the way I hear Pietas in my head.

Each created a sample using this dialogue: "No. I cannot imagine settling down with the same person for eternity. How mundane. It would take a special person indeed. I have, however, cohabitated with the same person for centuries and been quite happy. At least at first." When you hear Zack read it, I think you'll see why I chose him.

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A book fair for first of series Sci-Fi and Space Opera #SciFi #SpaceOpera

Kayelle Allen 08/02/2020 Cosplay

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Color the Characters: Read the Books #ColoringBook

Kayelle Allen 07/15/2020 Cosplay 12 Comments

Together, Jamin and I created coloring books for my various books and characters. You can download seven of them for free on this page on my website.

The first, Unstoppable Heroes and Heroines, features characters found in almost every one of my books. The Antonello Brothers has characters found in At the Mercy of Her Pleasure and For Women Only.

Peril -- the Immortal's Game is a unique coloring book. It has characters but also a maze and multi-sided dice to color.

Pietas -- the Bringer of Chaos has over a dozen dragons. Pietas dreams about dragons and their symbolism appears in his stories. In a future book, he will bond with one. Do you like flowers and butterflies? There are two coloring books that showcase those.

Coloring Pencils/Pens

You can pick up inexpensive boxes of crayons and take yourself back to your childhood. I have several sets of colored pencils and pens. My favorite type is gel because the colors are so rich and bright. The Eparon gel pen set has 40 unique colors and they're only $6.99. If you have Amazon Prime you can get them without shipping fees. There are 4 standard coloring pens, 6 neon, 5 mixed pastel, 5 solid pastel, 10 glitter, and 10 metallic. They are acid-free, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. My advice is to get this set in addition to another with simpler colors. That way you have a variety.

Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments. Do you like coloring? What is your favorite type of drawing?

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How to Embed Instagram on WordPress in 6 Easy Steps #Instagram #WordPress

Kayelle Allen 05/15/2020 Cosplay

Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to embed Instagram posts on your WordPress website? There is!

How to Embed Instagram on WordPress

I found a great hack for Instagram while searching tips and tricks. I'm always open to learning new and better ways to do things. When I saw this, I knew I had to share it with you. I use Instagram for fun, and occasionally, I share something I'm working on. That's what the post at the left is all about. I was working on banners for my new book, A Stolen Heart, and thought I'd show one to my followers.

The post I'm showing here features Pietas, who was cosplayed by Nik Nitsvetov live on Instagram.

My curiosity about how to embed Instagram posts on a blog turned up a super easy way to do it.

6 Steps to Embed Instagram on WordPress

This is such an easy way to extend your reach with Instagram that I'm surprised more people don't do it. I found this hack on the website of the awesome Kim Garst. Be sure to check out her post "20 Instagram tricks that you probably don't know." It was fabulous. I followed Kim's instructions and it worked great. Here's how to do it yourself.

1. Go to the Instagram post you want to embed.

2. Look for 3 dots -- that's a mini-menu you can access. Click it.

3. In the drop down menu, click "Embed." Here, you have a choice whether to include the caption. For the example above, I did. The code will be super long, but Instagram lets you copy the code with one click, which makes it really easy.

4. Go to the WordPress blog post where you want to show this image.

5. Look for the tab at the top of the post window that says "text" and click it.

6. Paste the code.

That's it. Go back to visual, and you'll see the Instagram post on your blog. How cool is that?

I've been thinking about recording myself working on banners and then sharing the video here and on Instagram. What do you think? Would you be interested in seeing that? What other "How To" questions do you have? Let me know in the comments and if I don't know, I'll research it and see if I can help.

A Stolen Heart

When he rescues a half-human orphan, a glorified space pirate turned entrepreneur sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to topple the powerful Thieves' Guild he once led.

Multiple layers of conspiracy unfold, reaching all the way to Luc's immortal ex--the king. Behind each solved mystery looms an unseen foe, undoing the good Luc accomplishes. For the sake of this child, Luc must postpone his own freedom and master his desire for revenge or he will violate an ancient vow. Worse, he'll put the toddler at risk.

At war with his compassion for the vulnerable child, loyalty to the king, duty to the Guild, and the bright lure of freedom he's coveted for centuries, Luc seeks the right path. Will he choose liberty and unparalleled success, or restore the Thieves' Guild to its former glory while overseeing the child's training?

A hard choice for any man.

For an immortal whose inner monster can destroy on sight? Impossible.

A pirate with a monstrous past can never be trusted with an innocent child. Luc must ensure the child is protected, safe, nowhere near danger. Nowhere near him. Even if this little boy has already stolen his heart...

Buy on Amazon Now

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How to Upload to Instagram from your PC #tips from LA Sartor @LesannSartor #Instagram

Kayelle Allen 04/10/2020 Cosplay

This tip is one I doubt I'd ever have discovered on my own. How to upload to Instagram from my PC. What a timesaver. My thanks to author LA Sartor for this one!

Sometimes I'm on my pc and have things I want to share on Instagram. Sometimes I save images from my phone to the cloud and then want to download and use them. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to upload to Instagram from my PC?

Guess what? You can.

There might be other ways to upload to Instagram but this one, using Chrome, is one of the easiest, and for me the best.

Upload to Instagram

My friend, author LA Sartor, shared her tip with my writer marketing group, Marketing for Romance Writers. It was so helpful that I asked LA if I could share it on my blog as well. Happily for us, she agreed. So I'm also sharing her book, Prince Of Granola. Wait till you see how that title came about!

A picture is worth 1000 words, they say. In this case I agree.

Here's the infographic on how to upload to Instagram that made the rounds on MFRW.

Prince Of Granola by LA Sartor

Cacao. Long a symbol of wealth, love, and power – now the center of a powerful rivalry.

The fabled Costa Rican Plantation of White Treasure, source of the rarest form of the cacao bean, is up for sale. Though two fierce competitors have been invited to bid on it, only one can win.

For Drew Hopkins, purchasing the plantation is the perfect solution to escape a life she never wanted.

For Robert Prince, it's the perfect route to revenge.

Drew, the founder's daughter and now CEO of HH Chocolate, heads a company whose sales are waning. Robert, CEO of Prince Organics, a man driven by excellence, despises everything and everyone labeled Hopkins.

But it wasn't always that way.

Will their forced proximity at the lush and exotic plantation rekindle old flames or will it fan the fires of antagonism?

Free on Kindle Unlimited https://amzn.to/2RcSEum

LA Sartor

LA Sartor is a bestselling, award-winning author. She began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at LA's insistence, wrote them down and LA illustrated them. As an adult, she writes suspense and action-adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays--she's had a contracted adaptation! She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date. LA loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.
Website https://lesliesartor.com/

Please stop by and check out my Instagram. I follow cosplay and some seriously awesome cosplayers. My favorite is Nik Nitsvetov, who cosplays my character Pietas. That totally focused and intense blond on the right is Nik as Pietas, from my Bringer of Chaos series.

My interests in archaeology, geology, and astronomy are reflected in stories I share on Instagram. I also follow many of the national parks in the US and share their images. Right now, I need a reminder of the majesty and beauty of our amazing world. Don't you?

I rarely post anything about my books, but if you want to know more about me as a person, Instagram is a good place to start.

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Meet Kayelle + get your game on at @OutlantaCon March 19-22 #SciFi #MFRWhooks #MFRWauthor

Kayelle Allen 03/10/2020 Conventions for Sci Fi Lovers 14 Comments

OutlantaCon

UPDATE (Mar 16, 2020)

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Atlanta mayor has banned all meetings with over 250 people. OutlantaCon has been canceled until 2021. The con will refund all attendees and provide everyone with a full ticket for next year, no matter if they bought a one-day pass or a full weekend.

Hope to see you next year!

OutlantaCon is now an Atlanta tradition in the Spring. Come meet me and hang out!

The Science Fiction convention will celebrate its 12th anniversary in 2020. For the last decade, the convention has been offering a fun welcoming place for queer geeks to gather in Atlanta, Georgia, where they can show their love for everything from anime to horror. At Outlantacon, geeks can take advantage of a range of great programming including: writers and comics track, fandom track, activism track, world wide short film festival, a constantly full game room, and live entertainment with game shows including the nation wide convention favorite: Project Cosplay.

The convention has grown over the years to create an inclusive and inviting environment for our LGBTQ+ folks and their allies to play and thrive.

Join us at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel and Conference Center. It's a 30k square foot conference space with innovative spaces and personalized service. Book your hotel room . Convention cost for the weekend is $50 for the entire 4 days of OutlantaCon. You know you want to meet me and hang out!

Hope to see you March 19-22, 2020.

Visit the site to check out the cool cosplays and events from previous years.

OutlantaCon 2020

Two events not to miss: The Match Game. This hilarious take on the old favorite never fails to get laughs. // OutlantaCon Squares. Remember Hollywood Squares? This is our version and it's guaranteed to crack you up! I'm in one of the boxes on this, so come see it!

I'll be teaching panels too. We can meet afterward and talk.

From Book to Cosplay: Live Action Cosplay for your book.

In 2018 and 2019, I worked with Russian cosplayer Nik Nitsvetov to recreate pivotal scenes from my Bringer of Chaos science fiction series. I'll discuss planning and presentation, plus offers tips on how to record the action.

Save Your Own Cat - Plotting in Fiction

Save the Cat is a plotting concept used by Hollywood and writers everywhere. Some say it's the new Plotting Bible. But what is it and why should writers care?

Get Naked: Stripping Down Your Story

Witness a live critique group in action and discover the value of editing and beta readers. Members of my local critique group (Canton Writers Circle) will present with me. I have published five books during my time with CWC. I consider these fellow writers not only my posse but also my very closest friends. Come meet everyone!

OutlantaCon is coming. Are you?

<--- Pietas Cosplay from 2018

Life-sized banners of Pietas.

He is 7' tall! (I'm 5'4")
Model is Nik Nitsvetov

Pietas Cosplay from 2019 --->

I'll have a booth in the Vendor's Room this year and will be showing off the gorgeous new banners of Pietas.

Come get your picture taken next to one of them! Where would you reach compared to me?

Your picture will help me as I write future stories. I'll be able to picture people of various heights next to the hero.

(Pictures taken at AnachroCon 2020 in Atlanta)

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What's the difference between a chibi and a statue?

What are dragons doing in a sci-fi?

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Pietas - Halberd Cosplay

Halberd

Follow Nik

Pietas transforms

Step 1: Before the Ritual

Step 2: Ritual

Step 3: After the Ritual

Witness the Next Live Cosplay

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Bringing Pietas to Life

What's your experience?

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Hiring a Voiceover Artist

Giving a Voice to Pietas

De-stress and color!

Coloring Pencils/Pens

How to Embed Instagram on WordPress

6 Steps to Embed Instagram on WordPress

A Stolen Heart

How to Upload to Instagram from your PC

Share Your Tips

Upload to Instagram

Prince Of Granola by LA Sartor

LA Sartor

Please come check out my Instagram

OutlantaCon

From Book to Cosplay: Live Action Cosplay for your book.

Save Your Own Cat - Plotting in Fiction

Get Naked: Stripping Down Your Story

Special Price